TYRE AND SIDON.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18545, 21 November 1925, Page 15

TYRE AND SIDON.

ENDANGERED BY REBELS. FRENCH TROOPS RUSHED TO SCENE. i»t ciiui—racss assocutios—cormaaT.) UrsTaAuiK ass s.z. cislx issociinoi.) JERUSALEM, November ID. Tho French arc rushing troops aud gunboato to Sidon and Tyre, which are in imminent danger of capture. Thcv arrested insurgent agents who were endeavouring to persuade the population of Lebanon to join the rebels. Fighting has brokon out outside Damascus,, also at Motaliah, free miles from tho Palestine border. DRUSES DEFEATED. FRENCH ENCIRCLING MOVEMENT. PARIS, November 19. From Beirut tho French have begun two big encircling movement s, by ,which it ig hoped to clear, the rebels from Lebanon. A French column is marching from Bajrak to Jcbel Nabataye, with tho object of cutting off 3000 Druses. Tho French completely defeated tho Druses north-west of Hasbiya. Seven aeroplanes bombed Merjiayun, making tho position of tho Druses untenable. WILLING TO NEGOTLVTE. DAMASCUS, November 19. All is quiet in Damascus. It is reported that most of tho insurgents hare migrated south-west towards southern Lebanon, where the Druses have captured Merjiayun. Christian Lebanese attempts to defend the villages against tho Druses will quickly evaporate if the Druses appear in any strength. / Druse notables state "that they are willing to negotiate for peace on tho basis of complete autonomy, with French advisers. 'THREE SORTS OF WAR." COLLABORATION REQUIRED. ' (Srosxr "Snt" Sjmvici.) LONDON, November 19. Hie Pails ; correspondent of the "Daily Mail" aays that M. de Jouvenal, tfce new High Commissioner for is going to London to-day to discuss with the Rt. Hon. Austen Chamberlain, - Secretary, the Near ISastern situation. M. de Jouvenal says that there aro three sort 3of War in Syria—first, against Europe;. second, the religiotM feud between tho Xfthanona and Syrians, and third, civil war. Tho country is suffering through intrigues by gunshot. • The greatest need is all-round collaboration in the spirit of the Leagu6 of Nations* v , do Journal added: M. Painlere . has promised me all the troops necessary to make my. task^itocessful.